Drain valve device



DRA IN VALVE DEVICE Filed Jan. 18, 1936 lNvENToR BLYDE C. FARMER ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 22, 1936 7 UNiTED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE DRAIN VALVE DEVICE Clyde C. Farmer, Pittsburgh, Pagassignor to The Westinghouse Air Brake Company, AWilmerding, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 18, 1936, Serial No. 59,716

14 Claims.

been provided have not included any means to melt ice after it has formed, or to open the passage to the drain valve device when it is closed by ice, and it has been necessary, therefore, to supply heat from an external source to melt this ice so that thedrain valve device might be rendered operative.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide means to thaw ice which forms in the passage leading to the drain valve device for a fluid pressure reservoir.

A further object of the invention is to provide means to thaw ice which forms in the passage leading to the drain valve device for a fluid pressure reservoir, which means does not require the use of an external source of heat.

Another object of the invention is to provide means to thaw ice which forms in the passage leading to the drain valve device for a uid pressure reservoir and which employs the heat of the f fluid under pressure contained inthe reservoir.

Other objects of the invention and features of novelty will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which,

Fig. 1 is a View, largely in section, of a reservoir equipped with the thawing means provided by my invention, and V Fig. 2 is a sectional View showing a valve employed in the means shown in Fig. 1, the valve -being shown in a diierent position than that in which it is shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing there is shown a reservoir I, which may be the main reservoir of a fluid pressure brake system. This reservoir may be of any suitable construction and is supplied with uid under pressure from a compressor, not shown, by way of a pipe 3, while fluid under pressure is withdrawn from the reservoir by way of a pipe 5.

The reservoir I has associated therewith an The drain valve devices which have heretofore automatic drain valve device, indicated generally by the reference numeral 1, which operates automatically in response to variations in the presv sure in a portion of the brake system to open a passage through which water accumulated in the 5 reservoir may be discharged.

The drain valve device 1 may be of any well known construction and one form of device which I may employ is shown in my U. S. Patent No. 1,801,853, issued April 21, 1931.

The drain valve device 'I is connected with the lower portion of the reservoir I by way of a curved pipe I0 which is threaded into a reinforcing member I2, which is secured to the reservoir l surrounding an opening therein. Y

The'pipe ID extends into the reservoir I a short distance and has passages or openings I4 cut through the wall thereof which. communicate with the interior of the reservoir at points adjacent the bottom thereof.

. The arm of the pipe Ill to which the drain valve device l is connected is somewhat longer than the arm of the pipe'which is connected to the reservoir so that the drain valve device 1 is located substantially above the bottom of the reservoirl, while 'the upper wall of the pipe IU at the lowest portion of the pipe is located Vertically below the bottom of the reservoir I, and also vertically below the automatic drain valve device 1.

A petvcock I6 is secured in Van openingin the pipe I 0 a short distance below the drain valve device 'l so as to communicate with the interior of the pipe I0 'at a pointvertically below the automatic drain valve device l, and vertically above the lowest portion of the reservoir I and above the upper wall of the pipe I0 at the lowest portion of this pipe.

The pet cock I6 has a passage I8 extending theiethrough and communication through this passage is controlled by means of a plug valve which is operated by a handle 22.

The pipe I0 may be covered with a layer of suitable heat insulating material indicated at 24, which serves to retard the flow of heat between the pipe and the atmosphere.

A pipe or conduit 26 of substantially smaller diameter than the pipe I0 is provided. The pipe or conduit 26 communicates with the interior of the reservoir I at a point adjacent the upper wall thereof and extends through the closed end Wall of the pipe Il). The pipe or conduit 26 is bent so as to have substantially the same curvature as the pipe I0, and is positioned substantially cen- #rally of the pipe I0 so as to be spaced from the 55 drain valve device l, but is also located verticallyl above the point at which the pipe I0 communicates with the reservoir I and also vertically above the upper wall of the pipe I6 at the lowest portion thereof. u 1

In operation the plug valve 20 of the pet cock I I5k is normally turned to the position inwhich it is shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, in which position it cuts oi communication through the passage I8.

Water which collects in the reservoir I Has a result of operation Yof the brake equipment ows by gravity to the lower portion ofthe reservoir and flowsrtherefrom through the openings I4, to the pipe I Il', and it accumulates in the lower portion of the pipe I6 which is located substantially below the lowest portion of the reservoir I.

The level of the vwater in the pipe I6 will rise until the level in both arms of the pipe I0 has increased substantially to `the level of the upper .wall of the pipe I@ at the lowest -portion thereof. On the further flow of water from the reservoir to the pipe I6 the level ofthe water in the arm of the pipe'IU which communicates with the reser- Voir Iwill increase, but the level of the water in I' the other arm of the pipe I will not increase as therise in the level of the water in this arm is pre- S5-Litho drain kvalve device l.

vented by the air which is trapped in the pipe I0 beneath the automatic drain valve device 1.

On the occurrence of the condition to which the rdrain valve device 'I is adapted to respond this v device operates to open the communication which it controls, .and there results a reduction in the pressure of the fluid in the portion of the pipe II) below the drain valve device 1. The pressure of Liifthe air in thereservoir I acting upon the water which has accumulated in the-pipe I0 and also in the lower portion of the reservoirV I, thereupon forces this Ywater throughl the-pipe, I J and out through the communication opened 'by the auto- ;jzmatic drain valve device l.l

When the drain valve device 1 operates to open the communication controlled thereby, air from the reservoir flows through the pipe or conduit 26 and through the restricted opening 28 out through The rate loi" flow of air through the restricted communication 28 is so small, however, that this flow of air does not aiect the discharge of water through the automatic drain valve .device 'I'. Y'

Aftera; brief time interval the drain valve device ,'I operatesto close the communication controlled thereby, and `thus cuts4 oi the release of water and of air from the reservoir' I by Way of the pipes Irand 26.'

If the reservoir I is exposed to temperatures below freezing for a substantial period of time the waterrwhich accumulates in the lower portion Aof the pipe III and in the reservoir I may freeze. If this occurs then `on subsequentl operation: of the Yautomaticr drain valve device l to open the communication controlled vtherebythe ice in the pipe Iwll prevent the waterrin the reservoir I from bei-ng expelled through the passage opened by the automatic drain valve device 'I and waterwill .continue to'accumulate in the reservoir I.

The means provided by this invention makes it possible to melt ice which forms in the pipe I0 without the use of external heat and thereby render the automatic drain valve device I operative to vent water from the reservoir I.

In the event that ice forms in the pipe I0 it may be melted by turning the plug valve 20 of the pet cock I6 to the position to establish communication through the passage I8, which is the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

`When the passage I8 through the pet cock I6 is opened air from the upper portion of the reservoir I is permitted to flow from the reservoir through the conduit 26 and through the restricted opening 28 to the portion of the pipe I0 adjacent the automatic drain valve device I and therefrom to the atmosphere by way of the passage I8 through the pet cock I6.

During the operation of the fluid pressure brake system air under pressure is supplied to the reservoir I by the air compressors, not shown, and this air is normally at a temperature substantially above the freezing temperature of water. When this air flows through the conduit 26 it heats the walls of this conduit and this heat is transmitted through the walls of the conduit to the ice which has formed in the pipe I0 in the passage between the conduit 26 and the pipe I0.

This causes the ice in the pipe lil to be melted and thereby establishes a passage through the pipe II] through which air from the reservoir I may :Iiow to the automatic -drain valve device 'I, that when the automatic drain valve device 'I is operated to open the passage controlled thereby, air from the reservoir I may ow through the pipe .i9 and expel the water which has accumulated in the pipe IIB. In addition, the relatively warm air from the reservoir I which flows through the pipe I6 melts any ice which remains in the pipe Ii) which is not melted by heat communicated thereto from the conduit 26.

After a time interval the plug valve 20 of the pet cock I-S is turned to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing so as to cut oft communication through the passage I8 and thereby restore the apparatus to the normal operating condition.

If the water in the pipe I0 should freeze again it may again be thawed by repeating the operation.

It will be seen that the apparatus provided by this invention provides means to thaw ice which forms in the passage leading to an automatic drain valve device and that this means operates Without the use of an external source of heat.

While one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it should be understood that the invention is not limited tothese details of construction, and that numerous changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

Having now described my invention, what I claimas new and desire to. secure by Letters Patent, is:

l.. In combination, a reservoir adapted to containv fluid under pressure, a drain pipe through which-liquid collecting in said reservoir may be discharged from the reservoir, a conduit disposed within said pipe and connected to a source of heated iiuid under pressure, and means for establishing a ow of heated iiuid under pressure from said source through said conduit to thereby melt ice which may be formed by the freezing of liquid within said pipe.

2. In combination, a reservoir into which fluid is compressed by a compressor, a drain pipe through which liquid collecting in `said reservoir may be drained on, a conduit disposed within said pipe and connected to receive iiuid under pressure from said reservoir which is heated through the compressive acton'rof the compressor, and means for'establishing a iiow'of said heated fluid under pressure through said conduit.

3. In combination, a reservoir adapted to contain air under pressure, a passage through which liquid may be discharged from said reservoir, valve means controlling communication through said passage, the passage having a portion intermediate the reservoir andthe valve means located vertically below the valve means and vertically above the point of connection ofthe passage with the reservoir, a conduit Vcontained in said passage, said conduit communicating with the reservoir at a point vertically above the point of connection of the passage with the reservoir and extending from the reservoir to a point in said passage vertically above the point of connection between the passage and the reservoir, and means to establish a ilow of air from the reservoir through said conduit. y

4. In combination, a reservoir adapted to; contain air under pressure, a passage through which liquid may be discharged from said reservoir,

valve means controlling communication through said passage, the passage having a portion located vertically below the pointof connection of the passage with the reservoir and vertically below the valve means, a conduit contained in said passage, said conduit communicating with the reservoir at a point vertically above the point gsi of connection of thepassage with the reservoir and extending from the reservoir to a point in said passage vertically above the upper wall of the ,passage at the lowest point inthe passage inter-` mediate the valve means and the reservoir, and means to establish a flow of air Afrom the reservoir through said conduit.

5. In combination, a reservoir adapted to conj tain air `under pressure, a passage through which liquid may be discharged from said reservoir,

a point in said passage vertically above the upper wall of the passage at the lowest point of the said passage, and means to establish a iiow of air from the reservoir through said conduit.

6. In combination, a reservoir adapted to contain air under pressure, a passage through which liquid may be discharged from said reservoir, said passage communicating with the reservoir at a point adjacent the lowest portion thereof, valve means controlling communication between the atmosphere and the passage at a point on the passage vertically above the point at which the passage communicates with the reservoir, the `passage having a portion intermediate the reservoir and the valve means located vertically below the point at which the passage communicates with the reservoir, a conduit contained in said passage, said conduit communicating with the reservoir at a point vertically above the point at which the passage communicates with the reservoir and extending from the reservoir to a point in the passage adjacent the valve means, and means -for establishing a flow of air from the reservoir through said conduit.-

7. Incombination, a reservoir adapted to con tain air under pressure, a passage through which liquid may be discharged from said reservoir, said passage communicating with the reservoir at a point adjacent the lowest portion thereof, valve means controlling communication between the atmosphere and the passage at a point on the passage vertically above the point at which the passage communicates with the reservoir, the passage having a portion intermediate the reservoir and the valve means located vertically below the point at which the passage communicates with the reservoir, a conduit contained in said passage, said conduit communicating with the reservoir at a point vertically above the point at which the passage communicates with the reservoir and extending from the reservoir to a point in the passage adjacent the valve means and vertically above the point of connection of the passage with the reservoir, and means for establishing a flow of air from the reservoir through said conduit.

8. In combination, a reservoir adapted to contain air under pressure, a passage through which liquid may be discharged from said reservoir, said passage communicating with the reservoir at a point adjacent the lowest portion thereof, valve means controlling communication between the atmosphere and the passage at a point on the passage vertically above the point at which the passage communicates with the reservoir, the passage having a portion intermediate the reservoir and the valve means located vertically below the point at which the passage communicates with the reservoir, a conduit contained in said passage, said conduit communicating with the reservoir at a point vertically above the point at which the passage communicates with the reservoir and extending from the reservoir to a point inthe passage adjacent the valve means and vertically above the upper wall of the passage at b e lowest point thereof, and means for establishing a flow of air from the reservoir through said conduit.

9. In combination, a reservoir adapted to contain .air under pressure, a passage through which liquid may be discharged from said reservoir, valve means controlling communication through said passage, the passage having a portion intermediate the reservoir and the valve means located vertically below the valve means, and a conduit contained in said passage, said conduit communicating with the reservoir at a point vertically above the point of connection of the passage with the reservoir, said conduit extending from the reservoir to a point in the passage adjacent the valve means and communicating with the passage at a point vertically above the upper wall of the passage at the lowest point thereof.

10. In combination, a reservoir adapted to contain air under pressure, a passage through which liquid may be discharged from said reservoir, valve means controlling communication through said passage, the passage having a portion intermediate the reservoir and the valve means located vertically below the valve means, a conduit contained in said passage, said conduit communieating with the reservoir at a point vertically above the point of connection of the Passage with the reservoir, said conduit extending from the reservoir to a point in the passage adjacent the valve means and communicating with the passage at a point vertically-above the upper -wall of the passage at the lowestpoint thereof, and means for establishing.communication between said passage and the atmosphere'ata point on the passage intermediate theupper wall of the passage atthe lowest point thereofrand the ValveV said passage, the passage having a portion inter mediate the reservoir and the valve means located vertically below the` valve means, a conduitl contained in said passage, said conduit communicatingY withV the reservo-ir at a point vertically above the point of connection of the passage with the reservoir, said conduit extending from the reservoir tola point in the passage adjacent the valve means and communicating with the passage at a point vertically above the upper wall ofthe passage at the lowest point thereopand manually controlled means for establishing communication between said passage and the atmosphere at a point on the passage intermediate the upper wall of the passage at the lowest point thereof andY the valve means.

12. In combination, av reservoir adapted to contain air under pressure, a passage throughnwhich liquid maybe discharged from the reservoir, said passage communicating with theV reservoir at a point adjacent therlo-west portion thereof, valve means controlling communication between the passage and the atmosphere at a point on the passage vertically above the `point at which the Y passage communicates with the reservoir, the passage having a portion intermediate the reservoir and the valve means located vertically below the point of connection of the passage with the reservoir, a conduit contained in said passage and communicating with the reservoir at a point vertically above the point at which the passage communicates with the reservoir, said conduit extending from the reservoir to a point in the passage on the side of the lowest point in the passage adjacent the valve means and communicating with the passage at a point vertically above the point of connection of the passage and the reservoir, and means to establish communication between the vrpassage and the atmosphere at a point on the passage adjacent the valvemeans and located'vertically above the point of 'connectionof the passage with the reservoir.

, 13. In combination, a reservoir adapted to contain air under pressure, a passage through which liquid may bel discharged from the reservoir, said passage communicating with the reservoir at a point adjacent the lowest portion thereof, valve means, controlling communication between the passage and the atmosphere at a point on the passage vertically above the point at which the passage communicates with the reservoir, the passage having a portionrintermediate the reservoir and the valve means located vertically below the point of connection of the passage with the reservoir, a conduit contained in said passage and communicating with the reservoir at a point vertically abovethe point at which the passage communicates With the reservoir, said conduit extending from thelreservoir to a point in the passage on the side of the lowest point in the passage-adjacent the valve means and communicating with the passage at a point vertically above the point of connection of the passage and the reservoir, and manually controlled means to establish communication between the passage and the atmosphere at a point on the passage adjacent the valve means and located vertically above the point of connection of the passage with the reservoir.Y Y

14. In combination, a reservoir adapted to contain air under pressure, a passage through which liquid may be discharged from the reservoir, valve means controlling communication through said passage, the passage having a portion intermediate the reservoir and the Valve means located vertically below the valve means, a conduit having a portion of the wall thereof exposed to liquid in saidA passage, the conduit communicating with the reservoir at a point vertically above the point of connection of the passage with the reservoir and extending from the reservoir to a point in the passage adjacent the valve means and located vertically above the point of connection of the passage with the reservoir, and manually controlled means for establishing a ow of air from thereservoir through said conduit.

CLYDE C. FARMER. 

